President's Report - September 2011

Sep 01, 2011

CNM’s New Advanced Technology Center Opens Sept. 19

CNM’s new Advanced Technology Center will open for classes on Sept. 19, providing much-needed classroom and lab space to help better accommodate the record enrollment growth of the past four years. The new 81,000-square-foot facility is located in north Albuquerque on Alameda Blvd. near the intersection with Jefferson St. It will host classes for seven programs – Architectural Drafting, Aviation Maintenance, Construction Management, Film, Geographic Information Technology, Landscaping and Truck Driving. In addition to lecture classrooms, the facility will also contain specialized lab spaces, such as large spaces to study airplanes, helicopters and tractor-trailers, as well as a state-of-the-art facility for the new Film Post-Production Technician certificate program. The building also has a computer lab and a learning commons area where students can use computers, meet with tutors and access library materials. CNM acquired the existing property through a foreclosure sale in early 2010. The new facility will open up much-needed space on CNM’s Main Campus, where five of the programs now operating at the ATC were previously housed.

Enrollment Leveling Off for First Time in Four Years

As of Sept. 8, 29,423 students were enrolled at CNM for the fall term, which is just slightly off of last fall’s record pace. On the same day in fall 2010, enrollment was at 29,852. The final fall 2010 enrollment, which includes classes that start later in the term, was 29,948, an all-time high for CNM. Fall 2011 enrollment is not yet official.

New Programs Debut

CNM is rolling out a large number of new or significantly changed degree and certificate programs this fall. Some are career technical education programs intended to improve graduate employability in the job market; others are transfer degree programs that have been aligned to ensure that CNM student credits transfer fully to the University of New Mexico and other four-year schools. A new associate’s degree program in Surveying Engineering is designed as a 2+2 student transfer agreement with New Mexico State University. The degree also stands alone as an entry-level job credential. Other additions in the School of Applied Technologies include: associate’s degrees in Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration; and Plumbing and Gas Fitting; certificates in Architectural Woodworking; Photovoltaic Installation: Film Post Production; Residential HVAC; and Commercial, Industrial HVAC & Building Performance; and Geographic Information Systems. The School of Communication, Humanities & Social Sciences offers six new associate’s degree aligned with popular programs at UNM: Anthropology, Communication, English, History, Political Science and Sociology. Students in these programs will know the courses they need to transfer for a bachelor’s degree. In the School of Health, Wellness & Public Safety, there are new certificates in Homeland Security (initially limited to Transportation Security Administration employees) and Nursing Assistant/Unit Coordinator. There is a new Pre-Health Sciences associate’s degree with concentrations in: Diagnostic Medical Sonography; EMS Paramedic; Health Information Technology; Medical Laboratory Technology; Nursing; Radiologic Technology; Respiratory Therapy; Veterinary Technology; and Biotechnology. There are also new certificates in Dental Assisting and Practical Nursing

CNM, UNM Sign Student Transfer Agreement in EMS

On September 8, representatives from Central New Mexico Community College and the University of New Mexico signed a new 2+2 agreement, the 15th such partnership between the two schools since signing a historic Memorandum of Agreement in 2007 that committed the institutions to more collaboration. This latest agreement establishes a pathway for graduates of the CNM paramedic associate’s degree program to continue their education in the bachelor’s degree program at UNM, one of only eight such programs in the country. The benefit of this agreement to CNM students, according to Michael Voss, chair of CNM’s EMS program, is that it prepares them for longer careers and higher positions in the EMS field. “The national trend in EMS is moving toward higher educational standards, and UNM and CNM are ahead of the curve,” he said. “Across the board, an associate’s degree is the preference for those looking for a first-line supervisor position, while the bachelor’s degree is the choice for midlevel management and beyond.” For example, local fire departments are requiring an AAS degree for promotion to Lieutenant and a BS for promotion to Captain. About 25 percent of recent CNM graduates have chosen to pursue the higher degree; this is expected to continue. New Mexico is among the leading states in increasing standards for EMS education. “The ultimate goal is to improve patient care,” says Voss. Both the CNM and UNM programs have national accreditation from the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Professions (CoAEMSP) and are recognized by the New Mexico Joint Organization on Education (NM JOE). CNM graduates who transfer to UNM can choose from three tracks of study: Management, Clinical (Community and Public Health) and Austere and Wilderness (providing care where there is not an emergency room or medical center nearby).

CNM Workforce Training Center Partners with NMDOT

The CNM Workforce Training Center (WTC) recently started executing a contract to provide non-credit training to mechanics from the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT). Mechanics from multiple districts across the state will receive instruction in 11 different subjects, ranging from beginning to advanced auto and diesel, plus electronics and other specialized topics. The three-year program, one of the largest ever at the WTC, is projected to save the state more than a million dollars by lowering training costs, increasing employee productivity and introducing new technology. Most of the training will take place at NMDOT facilities located in Albuquerque, while some will be conducted at the WTC. For more information about all of the non-credit workforce training and professional development opportunities at the WTC, visit cnm.edu/wtc.

United Blood Services Donates Some Proceeds of Blood Drive to CNM Scholarship

On Sept. 6-8, the CNM Foundation hosted a United Blood Services event on CNM’s Main Campus. For each pint of blood donated at the three-day event, the United Blood Services made a donation to the Rust Opportunity Assistance Scholarship, which provides emergency funds to students who face unforeseen financial obstacles. The Rust scholarship was established in 2005 as a way to help students overcome financial problems that might interfere with their ability to stay in school. For more information on the scholarship, call the CNM Foundation at (505) 224-4685.